Flip Flophttp://www.businessinsider.com/category/flip-flop
en-usThu, 17 Aug 2017 23:48:00 -0400Thu, 17 Aug 2017 23:48:00 -0400The latest news on Flip Flop from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/havaianas-brazilian-flip-flop-brand-sold-for-over-1-billion-2017-7Havaianas flip-flop brand sold for over $1 billion to help pay corruption fineshttp://www.businessinsider.com/havaianas-brazilian-flip-flop-brand-sold-for-over-1-billion-2017-7
Fri, 14 Jul 2017 06:17:00 -0400Camilla Hodgson
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/59689a59dde1890a233b31b8-2400/gettyimages-173990743.jpg" alt="Havaianas" data-mce-source="Getty" data-mce-caption="Havaianas are displayed during the Havaianas &amp; Marie Claire Summer Kick-Off Event on July 18, 2013 in New York City." /></p><p>The billionaire owners of Brazilian flip-flop brand Havaianas are selling the company for nearly &pound;850 million ($1.1 billion) to help pay a &pound;2.5 billion ($3.24 billion) fine.</p>
<p>J&amp;F Investimentos sold its 86% stake in Alpargatas, which manufactures the shoes, on Thursday for &pound;844 million ($1.09 billion) to three Brazilian banking groups.</p>
<p>J&amp;F, which is owned by Brazil's Batista family, was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-brazils-jf-agrees-to-pay-32-billion-fine-in-leniency-agreement-2017-5?IR=T">fined more than $3 billion (&pound;2.31 billion) in May</a> for bribing nearly 1,900 politicians, which has contributed to Brazil's current political crisis and threatened the stability of President Michel Temer. Funds from the sale will be used to pay this fine.</p>
<p>Havaianas are arguably the most iconic flip-flop brand in the world, leaning heavily on their Brazilian heritage for market themselves as a brand for care-free, sun-loving beach bums.</p>
<p>The shoes were first sold in 1962 but exploded in popularity in the early 2000s, as the company expanded into Europe, the US, and Asia. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston were also spotted wearing Havaianas' flip-flops, boosting the brand.</p>
<p>Havaianas flip-flops are based on the traditional Japanese sandal the Zori, which have soles made of rice straw. Havaianas' trademark soles are rubber but mimic the texture of rice grains.</p>
<p>Alpargatas' share price dived after Joesley Batista and chairman Vincent Trius resigned from its board in late May, following Batista's admission of guilt. Shares rallied as the news emerged that J&amp;F were considering selling the company a day later, and have been on an upward trajectory since. Shares are now at a five-year high.</p>
<p>As of 10:33 a.m. BST (05:33 EST) on Friday, shares are up 4.93%. Here is the chart:<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/59689a59dde1890a233b31ba-1121/screen shot 2017-07-14 at 103423.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017 07 14 at 10.34.23" data-mce-source="Investing.com" /></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/havaianas-brazilian-flip-flop-brand-sold-for-over-1-billion-2017-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-stock-price-lagging-market-iphone-8-2017-7">Apple is lagging the market as iPhone 8 woes mount</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/podiatrist-explains-flip-flops-terrible-feet-jackie-sutera-plantar-fasciitis-bunions-2017-5A podiatrist explains why flip-flops are terrible for your feethttp://www.businessinsider.com/podiatrist-explains-flip-flops-terrible-feet-jackie-sutera-plantar-fasciitis-bunions-2017-5
Tue, 30 May 2017 10:01:39 -0400Arielle Berger
<p><span>Podiatric surgeon </span><a href="http://www.citypodiatry.com/about-us/">Dr. Jacqueline Sutera</a><span>&nbsp;explains&nbsp;why flip-flops aren't sensible footwear, and outlines some of the long-term consequences of overwearing them. Following is a transcript of the video.</span></p>
<p><em>Flip-flops are really bad, again, because they're very flat, and they're super thin.</em></p>
<p><em>There's just those thin little thong straps that are holding your foot to the shoe.&nbsp;When you're wearing the flip-flop, your toes tend to overgrip a little bit&nbsp;and that can cause a lot of different types of pains,&nbsp;especially if you overuse them.</em></p>
<p><em>They really should be reserved for just poolside and the beach&nbsp;and kind of just casual, not for everyday, walking around.</em></p>
<p><em>You can develop plantar fasciitis, which is a common one.&nbsp;That just means that there&nbsp;is inflammation at the&nbsp;bottom of the foot.&nbsp;There's a ligament called&nbsp;your plantar fascia,&nbsp;and that runs along your&nbsp;whole entire arch.</em></p>
<p><em>So, arch pain, heel pain — if you have bunions and hammertoes&nbsp;flip-flops can make them a lot worse because, again, you're overgripping.&nbsp;And, even different types of tendonitis and ankle sprain, because you're&nbsp;not really stable inside that shoe.</em></p>
<p><em>A bunion is basically a dislocation of the big toe joint.&nbsp;There's a bony prominence,&nbsp;like a big red bump that&nbsp;starts to form on the&nbsp;big toe joint on the side.&nbsp;This can lead to all kinds of problems.&nbsp;You don't fit well into your shoes, you'll start having pain when you walk, and it'll also start to contribute to different other problems like&nbsp;hammertoes, and corns, and things like that.<br></em></p>
<p><em>The good news is that there's some versions of those&nbsp;flip-flops that are better than others.&nbsp;So, look for a type that has a thicker sole, maybe a little bit thicker strap,&nbsp;and definitely has, like, an arch support.&nbsp;And, there's really great brands that have that.</em></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/podiatrist-explains-flip-flops-terrible-feet-jackie-sutera-plantar-fasciitis-bunions-2017-5#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/why-men-should-wear-flip-flops-2016-5Sandals are the perfect summer shoes, even if the Internet keeps trying to tell guys otherwisehttp://www.businessinsider.com/why-men-should-wear-flip-flops-2016-5
Mon, 09 May 2016 16:45:00 -0400Tyler Lauletta
<p><em>The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks" target="_blank">Insider Picks</a> team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.</em></p>
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5730be84910584cc008c1c47-1080-810/9k=-1.jpg" alt="Rainbows2" data-mce-source="Rainbows Sandals Instagram" /><span>As consistent as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, there is one thing you can count on the Internet for when the days start getting longer and warmer: thinkpieces on why men shouldn&rsquo;t wear sandals.</span>&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">It&rsquo;s a trend that seems to have started around 2010 and taken deep root by 2013. Like Nickelback and Comic Sans, <strong>hating on guys who wear sandals has become a national pastime adopted by outlets across the country in need of a summer story.</strong> For certain, they are not completely without merit; you probably shouldn&rsquo;t be wearing sandals to work unless you are a spokesman for Billabong, and definitely don&rsquo;t rock flops on a first date. But the language used in these critical pieces turns the heat all the way up to 11.</p>
<p class="p1"><a href="http://adequateman.deadspin.com/men-should-usually-not-wear-sandals-1707510311" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adequate Man</a> stated that &ldquo;Birks are bad, and should be avoided/burned in dumpster fires.&rdquo; <a href="http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2015/june/why-men-should-never-wear-flip-flops" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">D Magazine</a> added, &ldquo;Save for bondage suits and ponytails, flip-flops are the most horrifying thing a man could possibly wear outside of the comfort of his own home.&rdquo; <a href="http://mashable.com/2015/07/11/guys-open-toed-sandals-have-always-been-disgusting/#oya_5sg_7OqS" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mashable</a> came into the conversation saying, &ldquo;Whatever the terminology, their rampant prevalence on the streets is one of the most nauseating things about summer. And because they are so heinous and a sin to men everywhere, they must die &mdash; and do so quickly.&rdquo; &ldquo;A national scourge.&rdquo; said <a href="http://gawker.com/5549488/the-10-worst-things-about-summer" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gawker</a>. Even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-men-should-never-wear-flip-flops-2016-3" target="_blank">we at Business Insider threw our share of easy punches</a>, saying of sandals: &ldquo;they're inferior shoes, and they don't cover up much &mdash; including your disgusting feet.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1">I find this criticism befuddling. Sure, I understand that sandals are casual attire, and by no means do I advocate you wearing them to a funeral or on the subway or to your dream job interview. <strong>But guys, it&rsquo;s totally okay to wear sandals. I promise.</strong> In many cases it&rsquo;s preferable to closed toe shoes! The suns out and you want to pop outside, hitting the corner store for a sandwich or walking to the park to play some soccer where you know you&rsquo;ll prefer to be barefoot, dismiss the haters, slide on your flops and be on your way.</p>
<p class="p1">And I&rsquo;m not alone in this thinking. <strong>When <a href="http://www.mensfitness.com/styleandgrooming/fashion/we-asked-100-women-do-you-when-guys-wear-flip-flops" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Men&rsquo;s Fitness asked 100 women</a> &ldquo;Do you like when guys wear flip flops?&rdquo; 71 responded in the affirmative.</strong> Despite all of the hate expressed in the previously cited pieces, the empirical evidence I examined on the subject showed that women are okay with, or even approve of guys with some open-toed footwear. Sure, it's important to take care of your feet if you're going to commit to wearing flops for an extended period of time, but you should be doing that anyways, and if a desire to wear sandals will encourage you to do so, all the better.</p>
<p class="p1">It's 2016, do what you love, wear what you want, and if writers on the Internet tell you you're wrong to do so, so be it. Below are some of our favorite picks for summer sandals; they're functional and fitting for your summer activities.</p><p><strong>READ THIS:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-remove-stains-from-dress-shirt-collars-2016-5" >Guys, this is the one thing you need to keep your dress shirts clean</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-waterproof-iphone-case-lifeproof-fre-2016-1" >This is the best waterproof case for your iPhone</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>DON'T MISS:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-hoodie-zip-up-sweatshirt-for-men-everlane-2016-4" >We tested what might be one of the best hoodies out there</a></strong></p>
<h3>Rainbow</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5730ecd252bcd023008c1cf0-400-300/rainbow.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p class="p1">Rainbows are, to me, the quintiessential flip flop. Once broken in, they shape supremely well to your foot, and are great for quick trips and casual wear. They also come in a variety of colors, so you can choose the look that's right for you (though personally I am a big fan of the Classic Mocha).</p>
<p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://amzn.to/1TOO7Is" target="_blank">Rainbow '302Alts' Flip Flop, $54.95.</a></strong></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>hari mari</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5730ecdd52bcd05c658c1ac1-400-300/hari-mari.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><span>This look from hari mari is a simple one best suited for poolside outings and beach trips.</span></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.idevaffiliate.com/31555/idevaffiliate.php?id=438&amp;url=7996" target="_blank">hari mari 'Dune' Flip Flop, $44.98.<br /></a><strong><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/hari-mari-scouts-flip-flop-men/3918727" target="_blank">hari mari 'Scouts' Flip Flop, $64.95.</a></strong><br /></strong></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>ALDO</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5730ece552bcd05c658c1ac3-400-300/aldo.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><span>Aldo makes&nbsp;some&nbsp;high-quality shoes at reasonable prices, and the same is true of its&nbsp;sandals. This pair of slides is&nbsp;perfect for lounging around in the grass, sand, or whatever other surface you find yourself lazing about in.</span></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/aldo-nocona-slide-sandal-men/4287304" target="_blank">ALDO 'Nocona' Slide Sandal, $59.95.</a></strong></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-men-should-wear-flip-flops-2016-5#/#birkenstock-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/why-men-should-never-wear-flip-flops-2016-3Mick Jagger perfectly sums up why no guy should ever wear flip-flopshttp://www.businessinsider.com/why-men-should-never-wear-flip-flops-2016-3
Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:01:36 -0400Dennis Green
<p><span><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/56f41b4f52bcd044008b89ad-2839-2129/173079670.jpg" alt="Mick Jagger" data-mce-source="Getty/Simone Joyner" />Though many are loath to admit it, Mick Jagger is a fashion icon. Everyone from Harry Styles to fashion label Yves Saint Laurent have copied his trend-setting style.</span></p>
<p><span>And when he has something to say about style, men need to&nbsp;listen up. Here's a great example regarding flip-flops.</span></p>
<p><span>"People just don't dress up like they used to," Jagger recently <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mick-jagger-on-clothes-that-have-helped-him-shape-shift-over-the-years-20160323">lamented to Rolling Stone</a>. "When people went to the theater, everyone dressed up. I don't really miss that."</span></p>
<p><span>"But&nbsp;do you like going to the theater and seeing a bloke with&nbsp;not very nice legs in shorts and flip-flops?" Jagger asked.</span><span><br /></span></p>
<p><span>And the answer to that question is an unequivocal "no." Unless you're about to catch some rays at the beach, or are heading to a shower in the gym locker room, your feet should never touch flip-flops.</span></p>
<p><span><img class="float_left" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/56f4139952bcd020008b87f4-1127-846/istock_000035918900_medium.jpg" alt="flip flops" data-mce-source="iStock" />Why? Because they're inferior shoes, and they don't cover up much &mdash; including your disgusting feet.</span></p>
<p>"Men's toes are, in general, unsightly," Donnie Kwak, editor at Complex magazine, <a href="http://mashable.com/2015/07/11/guys-open-toed-sandals-have-always-been-disgusting/#W013yRIOBOqg">told Mashable last year</a>.</p>
<p>We couldn't agree more.</p>
<p>Men don't take care of their feet like women do. They don't get pedicures, and they don't wash their feet as often as they should &mdash; or sometimes at all.</p>
<p>No one needs to see that.</p>
<p>Keep your feet inside a cool summer shoe, like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/white-sneakers-2016-3">a pair of white sneakers</a> or a pair of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-wear-instead-of-boat-shoes-2016-3">boat-shoe-alternative moccasins</a> to avoid grossing anyone out.</p>
<p>Your summer social life will thank you.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/worst-dress-shoe-mistakes-2016-3" >The 5 biggest mistakes you're making with your dress shoes</a></strong></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-men-should-never-wear-flip-flops-2016-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nike-back-to-the-future-sneakers-2016-3">You’ll soon be able to buy these Nike self-lacing shoes inspired by ‘Back to the Future'</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/romney-changed-his-mind-on-abortion-2012-10It Looks Like Romney Changed His Mind On Abortion Againhttp://www.businessinsider.com/romney-changed-his-mind-on-abortion-2012-10
Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:15:05 -0400The Week
<p class="p1"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5063726a6bb3f7305f000006-3000-2294/mitt-romney.jpg?maxX=392&amp;maxY=300" border="0" alt="Mitt Romney" width="392" height="300" /></p><p>Mitt Romney's complicated relationship with abortion has long made him suspect to rock-ribbed conservatives.</p>
<p class="p1">He started off his political career in the solidly blue state of Massachusetts as a pro-abortion-rights Republican, before switching to a firmly anti-abortion position shortly before his first presidential run in 2008.</p>
<p class="p1">His "evolution" on abortion has, of course, invited accusations of brazen flip-floppery, and Romney has worked hard to convince Republican voters that his position is genuine, <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/09/1142408/-Romney-Abortion-is-not-part-of-my-agenda-Romney-campaign-Oh-yes-it-is">claiming</a> in 2007 that he would be "delighted" to sign federal legislation banning all abortions and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/09/mitt-romney-abortion_n_1952780.html">promising</a> as recently as September to defund Planned Parenthood.</p>
<p class="p1">(<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/a-mitt-romney-abortion-timeline">See a thorough video history of Romney's changing abortion position at <em>BuzzFeed</em></a>, and <a href="http://theweek.com/article/index/234544/did-mitt-romney-flip-his-stance-on-abortion--again#bottom">a 1994 video of Romney supporting abortion rights below</a>.)</p>
<p class="p1">This week,&nbsp;<strong>Romney once again appeared to sing another tune</strong>, saying in&nbsp;an <a href="http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/10/09/romney-says-abortion-legislation-isnt-part-of-his-agenda/article?nclick_check=1">interview with <em>The Des Moines Register</em></a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;"there's no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda." His campaign quickly <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/329875/romney-no-legislation-regards-abortion-would-become-part-my-agenda-katrina-trinko">"clarified"</a> that Romney "would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life."&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">Perhaps predictably,<strong>&nbsp;the Obama campaign pounced</strong> on Romney's suddenly more moderate stance, accusing the GOP candidate of a cynical ploy to woo women voters. "Romney may try to change his image four weeks before Election Day, but he can't change the fact that women can't trust him," <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-10/romney-risks-base-with-an-appeal-to-center-on-abortion#p1">said</a> Lis Smith, a spokeswoman for Team Obama. <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/indeed">Indeed</a>, many critics of Romney see the shift as <strong>part of a broader plan to erase his conservative positions</strong> before November. "This is an extension of the strategy Romney employed at last week's debate," <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/10/10/the_old_abortion_trick/">says Steve Kornacki at <em>Salon</em></a>, "playing dumb when confronted with the aspects of conservative ideology that are difficult to market outside the Republican Party base."</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Conservatives see less hypocrisy in Romney's modification</strong>, noting that legislation would not be Romney's main vehicle for limiting abortion. "As president, Mitt Romney would affect abortion policy by issuing executive orders and appointing Supreme Court justices that would (hopefully) allow the <em>states</em> to legislate on abortion," <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obamacare-provides-taxpayer-funding-elective-abortions_654076.html">says John McCormack at<em> The Weekly Standard</em></a>.</p>
<p class="p1">Either way, <strong>the strategy carries pitfalls and rewards</strong>. "While Romney's comments may widen his appeal among independent female voters, they risk raising questions among other independents about where he stands on the issue and depressing turnout among anti-abortion Republicans who already had misgivings about his past positions," <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-10/romney-risks-base-with-an-appeal-to-center-on-abortion#p1">say Margaret Talev and Lisa Lerer at <em>Bloomberg</em></a>.</p>
<p><object width="640" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NVnPzXAE7ow?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NVnPzXAE7ow?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="360" width="640" /></object></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/romney-changed-his-mind-on-abortion-2012-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/14-bald-faced-mitt-romney-flip-flops-that-were-dug-up-by-john-mccain-2012-114 Bald-Faced Mitt Romney Flip-Flops That Were Dug Up By John McCainhttp://www.businessinsider.com/14-bald-faced-mitt-romney-flip-flops-that-were-dug-up-by-john-mccain-2012-1
Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:24:00 -0500Michael Brendan Dougherty
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4f0f18d66bb3f70b1f000023/mitt-romney-jacket.jpg" border="0" alt="Mitt Romney Jacket" /></p><p>Last night, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/buzzfeed" class="hidden_link">BuzzFeed</a> got a hold of the 2008 <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/the-book-on-mitt-romney-here-is-john-mccains-ent">John McCain campaign's research book on Mitt Romney</a>. In over 200 painstakingly researched pages, it notes every slip-up, political fib, and potential liability for Romney going forward.&nbsp;</p>
<p>And of course it picks apart all the times Romney has said one thing, and then when the political winds changed, said something else.&nbsp;</p><h3>#1 On Immigration - For A Path To Citizenship, Then Against</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ec6e065eab8ea2441000036-400-300/1-on-immigration-for-a-path-to-citizenship-then-against.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>FLIP:</strong> &ldquo;Gov. Mitt Romney expressed support ... for an immigration program that places large numbers of illegal residents on the path toward citizenship ... <strong>Romney said illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship.</strong>&rdquo; &nbsp;(Evan Lehmann, &ldquo;Romney Supports Immigration Program, But Not Granting &lsquo;Amnesty&rsquo;,&rdquo; The Lowell Sun, 3/30/06)&nbsp;</p>
<p><span><strong>FLOP:</strong> &ldquo;[I] think I&rsquo;m best off to describe my own positions. And my positions, I think I&rsquo;ve just described for you &ndash; secure the border, employment verification and <strong>no special pathway to citizenship</strong>. I feel that&rsquo;s the course we ought to take.&rdquo; </span><span>(CNN&rsquo;s &ldquo;The Situation Room,&rdquo; 5/22/07)&nbsp;</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2) On George W. Bush's Tax-Cuts</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4eb7fdad69bedd8f41000025-400-300/2-on-george-w-bushs-tax-cuts.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><span><strong>FLIP:</strong> &ldquo;[R]omney spoke at the 10th annual legislative conference organized by U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Lowell) and met with the Massachusetts delegation. ... Congressional sources said that a point of contention arose when<strong> Romney refused to take a position on Bush&rsquo;s massive, 10-year tax cut plan.&rdquo; </strong></span><span>(Noelle Straub, &ldquo;Romney Talks Policy With Bush Staffers, Mass. Delegation,&rdquo; </span><span>Boston Herald, </span><span>4/11/03)&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><strong>FLOP:</strong> "McCain opposed President Bush&rsquo;s tax cuts, Romney noted. &lsquo;<strong>I supported them</strong>,&rsquo; the former governor said.&rdquo; (Lee Bandy, &ldquo;Romney Targeting McCain,&rdquo; The State [SC], 2/4/07)&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>3) Anti-Reagan then, now Pro-Reagan. </h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ba52cce7f8b9a57133a0c00-400-300/3-anti-reagan-then-now-pro-reagan.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>FLIP:</strong>&nbsp;&ldquo;I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. <strong>I&rsquo;m not trying to return to Reagan- Bush,</strong>&rdquo; Mitt Romney said during a debate with Ted Kennedy</p>
<p><strong>FLOP:</strong>&nbsp;"'<strong>Ronald Reagan is one of my heroes</strong>,' Romney said as he praised Reagan&rsquo;s strategy for winning the Cold War: &lsquo;We win; they lose.&rsquo;&rdquo; (Michael Levenson, &ldquo;Romney Links Gay Marriage, US Prestige,&rdquo; The Boston Globe, 2/26/05)&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/14-bald-faced-mitt-romney-flip-flops-that-were-dug-up-by-john-mccain-2012-1#4-on-the-national-rifle-association-and-gun-laws-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/check-out-ron-pauls-brutal-new-anti-gingrich-ad-2011-12Ron Paul's Newest Anti-Gingrich Ad Is His Most Brutal Attack Yethttp://www.businessinsider.com/check-out-ron-pauls-brutal-new-anti-gingrich-ad-2011-12
Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:27:14 -0500Zeke Miller
<p>Newt Gingrich's vulnerability as front-runner is his long record as a Washington insider &mdash; and no one is making the case for that more convincingly than <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/ron-paul">Ron Paul</a>.</p>
<p>A brutal new ad from the Paul campaign, titled "selling access," slams Gingrich for increasing his personal wealth while under the employ of taxpayers. The web video also explores Gingrich's past support for the individual mandate, ethics charges, and his large speaking fees.</p>
<p><span>&ldquo;These are all legitimate and important issues to point out to the American people,&rdquo; Ron Paul 2012 National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton said in a press release. &ldquo;If Americans are serious about changing the status quo in Washington, then they must take into account the record of someone who profited from the housing collapse with taxpayers&rsquo; money, advocated for Obamacare-style individual mandates, and who played the Washington game of getting rich due to influence as well as anyone.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p>The expertly-produced spot follows another tough one from last month, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ron-paul-newt-gingrich-attack-ad-video-2011-11">titled "serial hypocrisy."</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p>These spots underscore why there is still a substantial possibility that Gingrich will see his support erode before the Iowa caucuses next month. If Ron Paul can put this on TV in Iowa, Newt will be in real trouble.</p>
<p><em>Watch the video below:</em></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hRdqGKA782A"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/check-out-ron-pauls-brutal-new-anti-gingrich-ad-2011-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-mitts-come-off-romney-steps-up-gingrich-attack-2011-12The Mitts Come Off: Romney Steps Up Gingrich Attackhttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-mitts-come-off-romney-steps-up-gingrich-attack-2011-12
Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:04:59 -0500Zeke Miller
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ee5fa9f6bb3f7916e000067/romney-gingrich-debate.jpg" border="0" alt="Romney Gingrich Debate" /></p><p><a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mitt-romney">Mitt Romney</a> is not shying away from attacking GOP front-runner <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/newt-gingrich">Newt Gingrich</a>, instead he's escalating his assault on the former Speaker of the House as an "unreliable leader."</p>
<p>An email from the Romney campaign with the subject line "WITH FRIENDS LIKE&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">NEWT</span>&nbsp;NANCY&hellip;" slams Gingrich for appearing in an ad with House Minority Leader <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nancy-pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a> to raise awareness about global warming, in addition to repeating an attack on his claim that Paul Ryan's budget was 'right wing social engineering.'</p>
<p><span>&ldquo;Over his three decades in Washington, Speaker Gingrich has been an unreliable leader," writes Romney communications director Gail Gitcho. "When conservatives applauded <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/paul-ryan">Paul Ryan</a> for proposing bold new ideas to solve the budget crisis, Speaker Gingrich attacked his plan and threw him under the bus. And while conservatives were fighting job-killing cap-and-trade schemes, Speaker Gingrich shared a loveseat with Nancy Pelosi and lent his name to Al Gore's environmental agenda. Conservatives are looking for a reliable leader who they can count on to stand by their side.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span><span>The campaign also launched a new micro-site:&nbsp;</span><span>http://unreliableleader.com, which will serve as a hub for anti-Newt opposition research.</span></span></p>
<p><span>The "unreliable" charge is a risky one for Romney, who himself has been criticized for a record of flip-flops on various Republican positions.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span>"Nothing&rsquo;s changed in my positions. I'm just as conservative as I was 4 years ago. Maybe more so," <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JenniferJJacobs/status/145242023492984833">he told the Des Moines Register editorial board last week.</a></span></p>
<p><span></span>Romney has been under unrelenting assault from his fellow Republicans and even the Democratic National Committee for not being conservative enough for GOP voters.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-mitts-come-off-romney-steps-up-gingrich-attack-2011-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/gingrich-has-done-what-no-gop-candidate-has-done-before-get-romney-on-the-offensive-2011-12Gingrich Has Done What No GOP Candidate Has Done Before: Get Romney On The Offensivehttp://www.businessinsider.com/gingrich-has-done-what-no-gop-candidate-has-done-before-get-romney-on-the-offensive-2011-12
Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:39:00 -0500Zeke Miller
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4ed5357f69bedd5b0f00001a/mitt-romney-newt-gingrich.jpg" border="0" alt="mitt romney newt gingrich" /></p><p>WASHINGTON&mdash;For the past several months, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mitt-romney" class="hidden_link">Mitt Romney</a> has been the inevitable nominee &mdash; ahead in national and early state polls &mdash; and he's acted like it, with an almost-singular focus on President Barack Obama.</p>
<p>That all changes tomorrow.</p>
<p>For the first time the Romney campaign is going after one of his party's own: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/newt-gingrich" class="hidden_link">Newt Gingrich</a>, the new Republican front-runner whose commanding leads in Iowa, South Carolina, and Florida have Romney rethinking his strategy.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span>Former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu and former Missouri Senator Jim Talent will hold a press conference call tomorrow morning "to discuss Speaker Newt Gingrich&rsquo;s record," according to the campaign. Historically these venues have previously been used by Romney almost exclusively for Obama attacks &mdash; with no less than ten calls in a single day last month going after the White House.</span></p>
<p><span>If Gingrich collapses tomorrow, he has succeeded at doing what the other boom-and-bust GOP candidates have failed at &mdash; drawing Romney out into sustained attack mode. Romney and Perry notably traded barbs at some early debates, but it was never serious; and the rest of the Romney campaign remained focused on Obama.</span></p>
<p><span>Romney has spent the past six months hiding from the media and reluctant to make waves, preferring to allow the rest of the field to rise and fall around him. But with his once-stable 23 percent in the polls eroding,</span>&nbsp;Romney now has no choice but to act like a candidate, and not the nominee.</p>
<p><span>Gingrich's lead at the top of the polls is nearing the end of its second week &mdash; with no sign of letting up &mdash; Romney's has little choice but to go on the offensive.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvxDzS7B774&amp;feature=player_embedded">Romney started the assault with a thinly-veiled Gingrich swipe today, </a>releasing a new ad highlighting his long marriage (in contrast to Gingrich's three) &mdash; but Republican voters seem to have forgiven Gingrich for his personal indiscretions.</p>
<p><span>Tomorrow's call will no doubt be more substantive, but the risk Romney runs by attacking Gingrich is that he's vulnerable to many of the same charges he can level against the former Speaker of the House. Both have inconsistencies in their records, and Romney will have to take care to avoid his attack backfiring &mdash; while at the same time moving as fast as possible to deflate the air from the Gingrich bubble before it solidifies.</span></p>
<p><span></span>With less than four weeks to the Iowa Caucuses, Romney's running out of time.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/gingrich-has-done-what-no-gop-candidate-has-done-before-get-romney-on-the-offensive-2011-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-hit-romney-for-multiple-political-personality-disorder-2011-12MEMO: Democrats Hit Romney For 'Multiple Political Personality Disorder'http://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-hit-romney-for-multiple-political-personality-disorder-2011-12
Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:20:24 -0500Zeke Miller
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4edf49c1ecad04de25000032/mitt-romney.jpg" border="0" alt="mitt romney" /></p><p>A new hard-hitting memo from the Democratic National Committee attacks <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mitt-romney">Mitt Romney</a> for having "multiple political personalities" &mdash; an extension of the long-running charges of flip-flopping leveled against the one-time GOP front-runner.</p>
<p>The DNC has dominated the anti-Romney ad space, largely because the other Republican candidates have been unwilling &mdash; or unable &mdash; to land any blows against him. The new memo notes Romney's latest reinvention &mdash; from, as the DNC puts it,&nbsp;The Economic &ldquo;Mr. Fix-It&rdquo; to&nbsp;PalainRich&nbsp;(Palin-Cain-Gingrich) &mdash; as a result of Newt Gingrich's rise to front-runner status.</p>
<p>Despite Gingrich's rise, polls still show Romney as most competative against President Barack Obama in a general election matchup.</p>
<p><em>Read the memo below:</em></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">DNC Memo</span></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p>From:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brad Woodhouse, Communications Director, Democratic National Committee<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p>To:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Interested Parties<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p>Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; December 7, 2011<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p>RE:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mitt Romney and the plague of Multiple Political Personality Disorder (MPPD)</p>
<hr />
<p>Mitt Romney&rsquo;s two decade political career has been characterized by one reboot after another of his campaign, political &nbsp;strategy and even his beliefs.&nbsp; If you combine the number of times Mitt Romney has &ldquo;revamped&rdquo; his approach to his various campaigns and his positions on the issues he could easily be diagnosed with multiple political personality disorder &ndash; or MPPD.&nbsp;</p>
<p>If we were extremely generous and set aside Mitt Romney&rsquo;s constant and politically calculated shape-shifting on issues, looking only at his multiple political personalities over the course of his nearly 20 year political career, &nbsp;we still woke this morning to at least personality number five after the latest re-launch of his campaign.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Here&rsquo;s a look at the multiple political personalities of Mitt Romney:&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>The Unabashed Social Liberal:</strong>&nbsp;When he ran for the Senate in 1994, he was an unabashed social liberal &ndash; proclaiming to be more of a champion for gay rights and a woman&rsquo;s right to choose than even Ted Kennedy.&nbsp; He also held himself out as the ultimate independent Republican &ndash; famously rejecting the Reagan-Bush era by declaring in one debate with Kennedy: &ldquo;I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>The Competent Manager:</strong>&nbsp;By the time he ran for Governor in 2002, Mitt Romney was on to personality number two &ndash; the competent manager who was best suited to run the state &ndash; a moderate Republican who promoted the role of government in solving tough problems like health care and climate change &ndash; and who was still a social liberal on issues like abortion.</p>
<p><strong>The Social Conservative:</strong>&nbsp;By 2007 when he started running for President, Mitt Romney, who once said he be a better advocate for gay rights than Ted Kennedy, ran as a social conservative &ndash; appearing before every right wing social gathering he could find to promote his brand new anti-choice, anti-gay rights social views.&nbsp; He even tried to out-social conservative Mike Huckabee and ran hard to win over Iowa&rsquo;s social conservative voters in an unsuccessful effort to win the state&rsquo;s first in the nation caucus.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Economic &ldquo;Mr. Fix-It&rdquo;:</strong>&nbsp;After personality number three failed to win Romney the Republican nomination in 2008, he was on to political personality number four in 2011.&nbsp; An economic &ldquo;Mr. Fix It&rdquo; whose private sector experience was supposed to set him apart from the rest of the field.&nbsp; Gone were his desperate appeals to social conservatives to accept him as one of their own and instead Romney, for the better part of year, focused almost exclusively on the economy and shied away from personal political attacks on his primary opponents.</p>
<p>But while Romney campaigned as the presumed nominee &ndash; training all his fire on President Obama and ignoring his rivals &ndash; an unexpected roadblock popped up in his path in the form of&hellip;<a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/newt-gingrich">Newt Gingrich</a>.</p>
<p><strong>PalainRich (Palin-Cain-Gingrich):</strong>&nbsp;Time for another reboot, and political personality number five.&nbsp; Now Mitt Romney has morphed into some bizarre version of <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/sarah-palin">Sarah Palin</a>, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich.&nbsp; In a speech today he stopped even pretending he cares about the middle class and instead echoed these tea party favorites in blaming the middle class for the struggles they face.&nbsp; Instead of believing that Americans are greater together, Mitt Romney has, overnight, adopted the far right wing view that the middle class and people trying to enter it should simply be on their own to fend for themselves.</p>
<p>Mitt Romney woke up this morning channeling the inner tea party voices of the likes of Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich for one reason and one reason alone: to try to gin up interest for a campaign that has rarely found the support of more than 25 percent of the primary electorate.&nbsp; After all, what&rsquo;s a candidate to do when he&rsquo;s been campaigning for president for half a decade but still has 75 to 80 percent of voters in HIS OWN party who prefer someone else &ndash; almost anyone else &ndash; to him?</p>
<p>The Romney campaign also signaled today that they are ready to get negative and personal &ndash; preparing to send out surrogates to attack Newt Gingrich&rsquo;s private life in a desperate attempt to block his path to victory.</p>
<p>The problem for Mitt Romney is his latest reinvention is no more likely to be successful than the last, or the one before that, because it feeds the very problem his reinventions seem to be trying to solve: that with Mitt Romney, you never you know what you are going to get and you simply can&rsquo;t trust him to lead.</p>
<p align="center"><strong>IT&rsquo;S JUST MATH: 75% &gt; 25%</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p align="center"><strong>WITH ROMNEY VERSION 5.0, MITT HAS STARTED ANGLING FOR THE ANYONE-BUT-ROMNEY VOTE</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ROMNEY IS REBOOTING HIS CAMPAIGN TO ATTACK NEWT GINGRICH</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>HEADLINE: &ldquo;Newt Gingrich <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/poll">Poll</a> Vault Prompts Mitt Romney Reboot&rdquo; [</strong><a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/politico">Politico</a><strong>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/69944.html#ixzz1frRBo7GX" target="_blank">12/7/11</a>]</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Romney Campaign Is &ldquo;Making An Immediate <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/shift">Shift</a> In Tactics.&rdquo;&nbsp;</strong>&ldquo;The Mitt Romney campaign is making an immediate shift in tactics, a move that is necessary because, as one Republican close to the campaign put it, &ldquo;What they are doing now isn&rsquo;t working.&rsquo;&rdquo; [<a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/abc">ABC</a> News Radio,&nbsp;<a href="http://abcnewsradioonline.com/politics-news/change-of-plans-romney-revamps-as-gingrich-closes.html#ixzz1frRBgsCy" target="_blank">12/6/11</a>]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p><strong>Romney Campaign Strategy: Use Surrogates To Make References To Gingrich&rsquo;s Past.&nbsp;</strong>&ldquo;Integrity: When former Vice President Dan Quayle spoke about the importance of Romney&rsquo;s integrity &lsquo;when he&rsquo;s in public life. When he&rsquo;s in private life,&rsquo; that was no accident. Romney will not go after Gingrich on personal issues, but ABC News has learned that you can expect to see Romney surrogates making fairly direct references to Gingrich&rsquo;s tumultuous past, in the vein of what Quayle did. You can also expect to see Ann Romney and the Romney family on the trail much more, especially in South Carolina, to create a visual contrast. Their presence on the trail &lsquo;speaks for itself.&rsquo;&rdquo; [ABC News Radio,&nbsp;<a href="http://abcnewsradioonline.com/politics-news/change-of-plans-romney-revamps-as-gingrich-closes.html#ixzz1frRBgsCy" target="_blank">12/6/11</a>]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p><strong>Romney Campaign Strategy: Attack Gingrich&rsquo;s Temperament.&nbsp;</strong>&ldquo;Temperament: The Romney team sees Gingrich&rsquo;s temperament as a weakness. Romney himself will highlight the importance of temperament by discussing his record as a leader. Surrogates are likely to go after Newt directly. The question that will be posed is, &lsquo;Who do you want to make decisions?&rsquo; One Romney adviser added, &lsquo;Gingrich is everything people don&rsquo;t like about Washington.&rsquo; Romney might not try to directly rough up Gingrich at the ABC News debate Saturday in Iowa, but he will try to establish that contrast in leadership and temperament and hope Gingrich digs a hole for himself. &lsquo;Gingrich never does well when he&rsquo;s doing well,&rsquo; a Romney aide said.&rdquo; [ABC News Radio,&nbsp;<a href="http://abcnewsradioonline.com/politics-news/change-of-plans-romney-revamps-as-gingrich-closes.html#ixzz1frRBgsCy" target="_blank">12/6/11</a>]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ROMNEY RECENTLY HIRED SARAH PALIN&rsquo;S SPEECHWRITER&hellip;</span></strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p><strong>In Recent Weeks Romney Hired Former Palin Speechwriter Lindsay Hayes.&nbsp;</strong>&ldquo;[Romney campaign&rsquo;s chief strategist, Stuart] Stevens, who has made a second career out of writing dialogue for recurring TV characters, persuaded Romney to surrender the speechwriting responsibilities to him &mdash; and in recent weeks, Stevens in turn has deferred to the punchy prose of Lindsay Hayes, a former speechwriter for Sarah Palin.&rdquo; [<a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/new-york-times">New York Times</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/magazine/mitt-romney-bot.html?pagewanted=4&amp;bl" target="_blank">11/30/11</a>]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">&hellip;AND HIS SPEECH TODAY AT THE RJC CHANNELS&nbsp;THE RHETORIC OF TEA PARTY FAVORITES GINGRICH, CAIN, AND PALIN</span></strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<p><strong>Mitt Romney:</strong>&nbsp;&ldquo;President Obama is replacing our merit-based, opportunity-based society with an entitlement society.&rdquo; [Romney, Speech to Republican Jewish Coalition, 12/7/11]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Newt Gingrich:</strong>&nbsp;"Over the last 40 years, we have become an entitlement society. We have evolved into people who say 'Give it to me now.'" [Telegraph Herald, 5/4/06]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></li>
<li><strong>Herman Cain:</strong>&nbsp;''We must go from an entitlement society to an empowerment society, which means we help people help themselves.&rdquo; [New York Times, 11/6/11]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Mitt Romney:&nbsp;</strong>&ldquo;That which is earned by some is redistributed to others. And the only people to enjoy truly disproportionate rewards are the people who do the redistributing &ndash; the government.&rdquo; [Romney, Speech to Republican Jewish Coalition, 12/7/11]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Newt Gingrich:</strong>&nbsp;&ldquo;Now you have a president who says openly, you know, some people make too much money, and maybe he should decide. Now, I mean, his idea of redistribution is that politicians decide how much you ought to get to keep of what you earn.&rdquo; [Newt Gingrich, On The Record With <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/greta-van-susteren">Greta Van Susteren</a>, 5/20/10]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></li>
<li><strong>Newt Gingrich:</strong>&nbsp;&lsquo;He wants to redistribute wealth. I want to make sure everybody has a chance to create wealth. You know, if somebody hasn&rsquo;t created it, you can&rsquo;t redistribute it.&rsquo;&rdquo; [Newsmax, 3/5/11]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></li>
<li><strong>Sarah Palin:</strong>&nbsp;&ldquo;Voters were not told what it was that he truly believed in until we saw some snippets here and there that were uncensored, unedited when he alluded to his desire to redistribute wealth and to fundamentally, transform America. Now, people are realizing what he meant by that. Fundamental transformation of America and they are saying no, that is not what we need. What we need is a great restoration of America.&rdquo; [<a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/fox-news">Fox News</a>, 8/12/11]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Mitt Romney:</strong>&nbsp;&ldquo;President Obama has adopted an appeasement strategy.&rdquo; [Romney, Speech to Republican Jewish Coalition, 12/7/11]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Newt Gingrich:</strong>&nbsp;&ldquo;The Administration's commitment to "multilateralism" at the U.N. is nothing more than appeasement.&rdquo; [Human Events, 8/9/11]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></li>
<li><strong>Herman Cain:</strong>&nbsp;&ldquo;Appeasement is not a strategy. As Ronald Reagan proved, strength is&nbsp;<em>the</em>strategy.&rdquo; [World Net Daily, 5/2/11]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Mitt Romney: &ldquo;</strong>This election will come down to a president who wants to &lsquo;fundamentally transform&rsquo; America, and a Republican candidate who can restore America and get back to the founding principles that made this nation great. &ldquo; [Romney, Speech to Republican Jewish Coalition, 12/7/11]</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Newt Gingrich: &ldquo;President Obama Wants To Change America Into A Different Country. I Want To Renew The American Dream.&rdquo;&nbsp;</strong>&ldquo;&lsquo;I think President Obama wants to change America into a different country. I want to renew the American dream, that all of us are endowed by our creator with certain alienable rights, that we have the right to pursue happiness.&rdquo; [Newsmax, 3/5/11]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></li>
<li><strong>Sarah Palin:</strong>&nbsp; "We must not fundamentally transform America as some would want; we must restore America and restore her honor." [National Journal, 10/2/10]</li>
</ul><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-hit-romney-for-multiple-political-personality-disorder-2011-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/cain-romney-see-support-fall-as-gingrich-edges-into-the-top-tier-2011-11It's Official: Poll Shows Newt Gingrich Is Now A Top Tier Candidate http://www.businessinsider.com/cain-romney-see-support-fall-as-gingrich-edges-into-the-top-tier-2011-11
Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:52:00 -0500Zeke Miller
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4e9579b16bb3f7dd62000038/gingrich-debate-angry.jpg" border="0" alt="Gingrich Debate Angry" /></p><p>Support for Herman Cain and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mitt-romney" class="hidden_link">Mitt Romney</a> has fallen in recent weeks as conservatives have gravitated to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/newt-gingrich" class="hidden_link">Newt Gingrich</a> in the latest boomlet of this election cycle.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57322894-503544/poll-cain-tops-3-way-race-with-romney-gingrich/">A new CBS News poll</a> finds Cain has the support of 18 percent of GOP primary voters (<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20125120-503544/herman-cain-tops-mitt-romney-in-latest-cbs-nyt-poll/?tag=contentMain;contentBody">down from 25 percent on October 25th</a>), with Romney and Gingrich tied at 15 percent. Romney is down from 21 percent, while Gingrich's support is up from 10 percent.) This lead is well within the poll's 5-point sampling error &mdash; meaning the three candidates are in a statistical tie for first place.</p>
<p>The sexual harassment allegations surrounding Cain appear to be hurting his chances of winning the nomination &mdash; particularly among women, whose support for his candidacy dropped from 28 percent to 15 percent. Among conservatives his support dropped from 30 percent to 23 percent.</p>
<p>The efforts by conservatives and Democrats to paint Romney as a flip-flopper appear to be taking a toll on his candidacy as well &mdash; though he remains the most competitive against President Barack Obama.</p>
<p>The latest reshuffling of the field almost certainly will not be the last &mdash; with 7 in 10 Republicans polled saying they may yet change their mind on who they are supporting.</p>
<p>Gingrich's campaign organization pales in comparison to even Cain's &mdash; and his fundraising has been weak in comparison to the other two candidates. He, like Cain, has a lot of work to do before the Iowa caucuses if he wishes to turn poll support into electoral success.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57322894-503544/poll-cain-tops-3-way-race-with-romney-gingrich/">Read the full poll results here &gt;</a></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cain-romney-see-support-fall-as-gingrich-edges-into-the-top-tier-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/perry-attacks-romney-for-supporting-tarp-2011-11In Video, Perry Attacks Romney For Supporting TARPhttp://www.businessinsider.com/perry-attacks-romney-for-supporting-tarp-2011-11
Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:50:00 -0500Zeke Miller
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4eb2c1b069beddd14f000040/mitt-romney-rick-perry-fight.jpg" border="0" alt="mitt romney rick perry fight" /></p><p>Calling it the "one issue he has been consistent on," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/rick-perry" class="hidden_link">Rick Perry</a> took a swipe at Republican front-runner <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mitt-romney" class="hidden_link">Mitt Romney</a> in a new web video for backing the bank bailouts.</p>
<p>Perry, who has made anti-Wall Street and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/perry-doubles-down-on-bernanke-almost-treasonous-comment-2011-9">anti-Fed</a>&nbsp;sentiment a key component of his struggling campaign, never backed TARP explicitly, but, <a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0911/Perry_on_TARP_support_No_Maam.html">as Ben Smith reported</a>, he signed a letter three days after the bailout bill failed to pass in the House in 2008 "urging action."</p>
<p><em>Watch the video below:</em></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1QDxcrcpY98"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/perry-attacks-romney-for-supporting-tarp-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-flip-flops-about-flip-flopping-2011-11BRUTAL: Mitt Romney Flip-Flops About Flip-Floppinghttp://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-flip-flops-about-flip-flopping-2011-11
Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:54:54 -0400Zeke Miller
<p>The Democratic National Committee just released this video showing <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mitt-romney">Mitt Romney</a> changing his position on whether he has ever changed his position.</p>
<p>His record of flip-flopping is quickly becoming his biggest vulnerability this year.</p>
<p><em>Watch the video below:</em></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ViYmkhZqgXw"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-flip-flops-about-flip-flopping-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/romney-ive-been-as-consistent-as-human-beings-can-be-2011-11Romney: 'I've Been As Consistent As Human Beings Can Be'http://www.businessinsider.com/romney-ive-been-as-consistent-as-human-beings-can-be-2011-11
Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:03:00 -0400Zeke Miller
<p>Former Massachusetts Gov. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mitt-romney" class="hidden_link">Mitt Romney</a> says he a&nbsp;has "been as consistent as human beings can be" &mdash; <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-flip-flop-abortion-sleazy-2012-republican-campaign-2011-11">which means humans by nature are remarkably inconsistent.</a></p>
<p><em>Watch the video below:</em></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CaC8HOwrPKY"></iframe></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-flip-flop-abortion-sleazy-2012-republican-campaign-2011-11">Read More: You Knew Mitt Romney Was A Flip-Flopper, Now Here's Why He's A Total Sleaze</a><span><br /></span></h4><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/romney-ive-been-as-consistent-as-human-beings-can-be-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-flip-flop-abortion-sleazy-2012-republican-campaign-2011-11You Knew Mitt Romney Was A Flip-Flopper, Now Here's Why He's A Total Sleazehttp://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-flip-flop-abortion-sleazy-2012-republican-campaign-2011-11
Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:46:00 -0400Grace Wyler
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4e038efb4bd7c8a0501e0000-400-300/mitt-romney.jpg" border="0" alt="Mitt Romney" width="400" height="300" /></p><p>Mitt Romney has been taking heat for his flip-flopping ways for so long that criticisms about his lack of ideological core tend to sound like old news.</p>
<p>But a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-governor-romney-worked-to-reassure-liberals/2011/11/02/gIQAookxgM_story.html">must-read Washington Post story</a> on Romney's ever-changing ideology today is a reminder of just how far the Republican frontrunner will bend to get himself elected, and raises salient questions about what kind of president Romney would be.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The story outlines Romney's concerted effort to reach out to seriously liberal political activists &mdash; including abortion rights activists, gay rights activists, and environmentalists &mdash; during his 2002 campaign for Governor of Massachusetts and in his early years as governor.</p>
<p>Most alarmingly, the report claims that Romney told abortion rights advocates that they needed "someone like" him in Washington to soften the GOP's pro-life stance.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-governor-romney-worked-to-reassure-liberals/2011/11/02/gIQAookxgM_story.html">Via the WaPo: </a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>He would be a &ldquo;good voice in the party&rdquo; for their cause, and his moderation on the issue would be &ldquo;widely written about,&rdquo; he said, according to detailed notes taken by an officer of the group, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts.</em></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>&ldquo;You need someone like me in Washington,&rdquo; several participants recalled Romney saying that day in September 2002, an apparent reference to his future ambitions.</em></p>
<p>Romney was actually a definitively pro-choice candidate during both his 2002 campaign and during his failed 1994 bid for U.S. Senate. His 2002 platform stated that he promised to "preserve and protect a woman's right to choose" and "protect the current pro-choice status quo in Massachusetts."</p>
<p>Less than 10 years later, Romney The Presidential Candidate is singing a much different tune, repeatedly reassuring voters that he is staunchly "pro-life" and supports overturning Roe v. Wade.</p>
<p>The flip flop is obviously understandable politically, but also illustrates why Romney is such a weak presidential candidate. His record gives absolutely zero indication of what his political ideology actually is &mdash; if he even has one &mdash; or what he would do if he was the President of the United States.</p>
<h3>DON'T MISS: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/republican-presidential-race-joke-herman-cain-sexual-harassment-scandal-blame-2011-11">It's Official! The Republican Presidential Race Is Now A Total Joke</a></h3><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-flip-flop-abortion-sleazy-2012-republican-campaign-2011-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/huntsman-attacks-romney-with-backflipping-toy-monkey-2011-10Huntsman Attacks Romney With Back-Flipping Toy Monkeyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/huntsman-attacks-romney-with-backflipping-toy-monkey-2011-10
Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:08:00 -0400Zeke Miller
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4eab0b90ecad042746000024/huntsman-romney-monkey.png" border="0" alt="Huntsman Romney Monkey" /></p><p>Jon Huntsman's presidential campaign released an ad Friday criticizing GOP front-runner Mitt Romney's many flip-flops, using a back-flipping toy monkey to drive the point home.</p>
<p>The ad mentions Romney's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/exclusive-mitt-romney-got-used-as-a-pawn-in-ohio-state-gop-civil-war-2011-10">reversal on union-busting legislation in Ohio</a>, as well as his shifting position on abortion.</p>
<p>Romney's flip-flops were a major issue in his 2008 bid for the Republican nomination, as positions he took as governor of liberal-leaning Massachusetts were &mdash; and remain &mdash; out of sync with GOP primary voters.</p>
<p>Earlier Friday, Huntsman called Romney a "perfectly lubricated weather vane," on the issues that matter to voters.</p>
<p>Huntsman spokesman Tim Miller summed-up the campaign's attack, saying "Back flipping is for toys and gymnasts, not presidents."&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Watch the video below:</em></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EhyMplwY6HY"></iframe></p>
<p>The ad's script is below:</p>
<p><strong>JHFP Web Video &ndash; &ldquo;Backflip&rdquo;</strong><br />Released &ndash; 10/28/2011<br />TRT: 60 Seconds<br />Public <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/youtube" class="hidden_link">YouTube</a> Link:&nbsp;<a href="http://jonhuntsmanforpresidentcommunications.createsend1.com/t/r/l/illjdik/xuhuithtt/t/" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/user/Jon2012HQ#p/a/u/0/EhyMplwY6HY</a></p>
<p><strong>Script:</strong></p>
<p>JOE JOHNS: If Republicans didn&rsquo;t like Mitt Romney&rsquo;s position on the so-called &ldquo;union-busting&rdquo; proposal in Ohio, all they had to do is wait one day before he changed it.</p>
<p>DONNY DEUTSCH: History has showed us after the last few decades, in this 24/7 media world, the flip-flopping candidate cannot get elected.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY: I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY: That I have consistently been pro-life.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY: When he took office, the economy was in recession, and he made it worse.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY: I didn&rsquo;t say that things are worse.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY: Look, I was an Independent during the time of Reagan-Bush, I am not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY: Is to pursue the strategy which Ronald Reagan pursued.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY: We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts. I support them.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY: And I would protect our Second Amendment rights to bear arms.</p>
<p>MARY MATALIN: And the core of their concern is what you just raised, what is his core?</p>
<p>JON <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/huntsman" class="hidden_link">HUNTSMAN</a>: It smacks a little bit of leading from behind.</p>
<p>CHYRON &ndash; &ldquo;Leadership You Can Depend On&rdquo;</p>
<p>JON HUNTSMAN: This is a time when if you are going to be President of the United States, you show a little presidential leadership. That&rsquo;s by taking a position and leading out. Sometimes there is a risk associated with taking a position, but that&rsquo;s all part of leadership.</p>
<p>CHYRON &ndash; &ldquo;Jon Huntsman &ndash; President 2012&rdquo;</p>
<p>CHYRON &ndash; &ldquo;Jon Huntsman.com - Paid for by Jon Huntsman for President&rdquo;</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/huntsman-attacks-romney-with-backflipping-toy-monkey-2011-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/cain-my-mistakes-make-me-presidential-2011-10CAIN: My Mistakes Make Me Presidentialhttp://www.businessinsider.com/cain-my-mistakes-make-me-presidential-2011-10
Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:21:39 -0400Grace Wyler
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4e98bf4deab8ea1a4c00001d/herman-cain.jpg" border="0" alt="herman cain" /></p><p>Herman Cain exhibited his penchant for unconventional logic once again this afternoon, telling reporters that his recent policy flip-flops and gaffes are simply signs that he has what it takes to be President of the United States.</p>
<p>As Cain continues to surge in the polls, the once-unknown pizza magnate has come under fire on multiple fronts, taking heat for his recent <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/you-will-not-believe-the-lastest-thing-herman-cain-has-said-about-abortion-2011-10">contradictory statements on abortion</a> and foreign policy, and from critics who say <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/herman-cain-book-tour-president-2011-10">his campaign is merely a glorified book tour. </a></p>
<p>Addressing these and other questions after a Chicago fundraiser today, Cain told reporters that his mistakes are what make him a serious candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.</p>
<p>"The thing that&rsquo;s going to convince people that my campaign is credible is if I make a misstatement, I&rsquo;m going to retract it,&rdquo; Cain said, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/cain-says-the-flip-flopping-proves-hes-presidential/">according to ABC News</a>. &ldquo;If I make a mistake, I&rsquo;m going to admit I made a mistake. The last perfect person was hung on a cross 2,000 years ago.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Cain also clarified questions about his 9-9-9 tax reform plan, which he <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/herman-cain-9-9-9-plan-sad-rally-detroit-opportunity-zones-2011-10">modified last week to include a "9-0-9" provision</a> that would exempt people at or below the poverty line from paying a federal income tax. That addendum to "9-9-" is included in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/herman-cain-just-sent-out-a-press-release-from-the-future-2011-10">Cain's new "Opportunity Zone Plan,"</a> which would give tax benefits to businesses for hiring in designated geographic "zones."</p>
<p>&ldquo;We also left room for that and it was in the plan all along. People simply did not read all the way through the plan,&rdquo; Cain said Monday. "It&rsquo;s not new. It&rsquo;s been there all along and it does not reduce the overall revenue that we raise because we left room for that in the revenue we&rsquo;re going to raise.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Details about the 9-9-9 plan &mdash; and the 9-0-9 plan &mdash; have been vague, at best. Cain's first mention of the new 9-0-9 plan appears to have been during a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/herman-cain-9-9-9-plan-sad-rally-detroit-opportunity-zones-2011-10">rally in Detroit</a> last Friday.</p>
<h3><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-real-herman-cain-12-awesome-things-you-never-knew-about-the-new-gop-frontrunner-2011-10">DON'T MISS: 12 Awesome Things You Never Knew About Herman Cain </a></h3><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cain-my-mistakes-make-me-presidential-2011-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-attack-romney-with-videos-asking-which-mitt-2011-10Democrats Attack Flip-Flopping Romney With Videos Asking: Which Mitt?http://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-attack-romney-with-videos-asking-which-mitt-2011-10
Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:24:00 -0400Jon Terbush
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/4e9489d5ecad04aa33000039/mitt-romney-video-by-dnc.jpg" border="0" alt="Mitt Romney video by DNC" /></p><p>Mitt Romney says he's pro-choice. Mere seconds later, he's a staunch pro-lifer.</p>
<p>That juxtaposition, and several more, are made possible thanks to the Democratic National Committee, which has released a series of ads comparing some of Romney's past statements to his current political positions.</p>
<p>Romney has often been labeled a flip-flopper for seemingly changing his tune on a number of critical issues, including abortion and government mandated health insurance. The ads are an early volley against the candidate who, at least for now, is the frontrunner to win the GOP race to take on President Obama in 2012.</p><h3>Roe v. Wade</h3>
<p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CAuwuLse1Gg"></iframe></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Economic stimulus</h3>
<p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YCE75NKp4S8"></iframe></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Auto company bailouts</h3>
<p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HmYasS9p9zs"></iframe></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-attack-romney-with-videos-asking-which-mitt-2011-10#obamas-handling-of-the-economy-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/any-way-the-wind-blows-12-epic-flip-flops-from-presidential-campaigns-2011-912 Huge Presidential Campaign Flip-Flopshttp://www.businessinsider.com/any-way-the-wind-blows-12-epic-flip-flops-from-presidential-campaigns-2011-9
Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:30:00 -0400Jon Terbush
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4e823cc869beddd156000040/john-kerry-windsurf-ad.jpg" border="0" alt="John Kerry Windsurf ad" /></p><p>Politicians are often accused of pandering to voters, of changing their opinions to fit the current political climate. Accusations of flip-flopping sank John Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004, and the same problem doomed <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mitt-romney" class="hidden_link">Mitt Romney</a> in 2008 &mdash; <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/brutal-rick-perry-slams-romneycare-in-new-ad-2011-10">and threatens to do it again this cycle.</a></p>
<p>But they were hardly the first politicians to engage in a sudden change of heart over key issues. Even honest Abe once reversed course on a central campaign promise.</p>
<p>And while the term "flip-flop" carries a negative connotation, it's been proudly hailed as a positive characteristic by at least one president.</p><h3>George H. W. Bush — No new taxes (except for these)</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/4e836534ecad04d31f000008-400-300/george-h-w-bush--no-new-taxes-except-for-these.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>"Read my lips: no new taxes."</p>
<p>So pledged George H. W. Bush at the 1988 Republican National Convention. That promise made for an excellent soundbite &mdash; until Bush raised several taxes two years later as part of a budget compromise with Congressional Democrats.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>John Kerry: For the war before he was against the war</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4a69f15f573cfb183835fff2-400-300/john-kerry-for-the-war-before-he-was-against-the-war.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>President George Bush labeled rival John Kerry a serial flip-flopper throughout the 2004 election, noting that Kerry authorized the Iraq war but then campaigned against it. The Bush camp even put out an attack ad that listed off alleged Kerry U-turns while showing the Massachusetts Senator<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lights-camera-faction-16-awesome-presidential-campaign-ad-spots-2011-9#windsurfing-george-w-bush-2004-12"> windsurfing back and forth</a>.</p>
<p>Kerry did himself no favors when, while trying to explain his opposition to the final language in a supplementary war funding bill, uttered a line that would haunt the rest of his campaign: "I actually did vote for the $87 billion, before I voted against it."</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Abraham Lincoln — (Mostly) honest Abe</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4d621f61ccd1d5b839020000-400-300/abraham-lincoln--mostly-honest-abe.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>While on the campaign trail in 1860, Abraham Lincoln often promised not to meddle in states' affairs, specifically on the issue of slavery. <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres31.html">In his inaugural address,</a> he repeated that vow, and added that using federal troops within the states would constitute the, "gravest of crimes."</p>
<p>Then the South seceded, and Lincoln launched the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation.</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/any-way-the-wind-blows-12-epic-flip-flops-from-presidential-campaigns-2011-9#richard-nixon--the-honorable-end-to-vietnam-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a>